Materials for ionizing radiation detection

Abstract

Compositions, devices, and methods for determining ionizing radiation are generally described.

1 . A composition for determining ionizing radiation, comprising:
 a plurality of functionalized single-walled nanostructures; and   a polymer material integrally connected to at least a portion of the functionalized single-walled nanostructures,   wherein at least a portion of the polymer material undergoes a change in polymerization characteristic upon exposure of the device to radiation.   
     
     
         2 . The composition of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of functionalized single-walled nanostructures comprise:
 a) single-walled carbon nanotubes; and/or   b) graphene.   
     
     
         3 . (canceled) 
     
     
         4 . The composition of  claim 1 , wherein the connection between the polymer material and the plurality of functionalized single-walled nanostructures is made by:
 a) a covalent bond; and/or   b) a hydrogen bond; or   c) a non-covalent interaction.   
     
     
         5 - 6 . (canceled) 
     
     
         7 . The composition of  claim 1 , wherein the functionalization of the single-walled carbon nanostructure is designed to:
 a) create enhanced interactions with the polymer material; and/or   b) interact with Brønsted acids.   
     
     
         8 . The composition of  claim 7 , wherein the enhanced interaction is:
 a) hydrogen bonding; and/or   b) electrostatic.   
     
     
         9 - 10 . (canceled) 
     
     
         11 . The composition of  claim 1 , wherein the composition comprises nanoparticles with high atomic number capable of increasing the opacity to ionizing radiation. 
     
     
         12 . The composition of  claim 11 , wherein the nanoparticles comprise:
 a) bismuth; and/or   b) gadolinium.   
     
     
         13 . (canceled) 
     
     
         14 . The composition of  claim 1 , wherein the nanoparticles:
 a) have an intrinsic conductivity; and/or   b) are functionalized with an organic material.   
     
     
         15 . (canceled) 
     
     
         16 . A device for determining ionizing radiation, comprising:
 a sensor material comprising a plurality of functionalized single-walled nanostructures and a polymer material integrally connected to at least a portion of the functionalized single-walled nanostructures, wherein at least a portion of the polymer material undergoes a change in polymerization characteristic upon exposure of the device to radiation; and   a signal generator that generates a signal response to a change in polymerization characteristic, indicative of ionizing radiation.   
     
     
         17 . The device of  claim 16 , further comprising a first electrode and a second electrode, wherein the sensor material is in electrochemical communication with the first electrode and the second electrode, and the signal generator is responsive to a change in resistance and/or capacitance associated with a circuit including the first electrode and the second electrode as affected by the sensor material. 
     
     
         18 . The device of  claim 16 , wherein the device is:
 a) a wearable sensor; or   b) integrated into packaging materials.   
     
     
         19 . (canceled) 
     
     
         20 . The device of  claim 16 , wherein the change in polymerization characteristic comprises depolymerization of at least a portion of the polymer material. 
     
     
         21 . The device of  claim 16 , wherein the polymer material comprises a poly(olefin sulfone). 
     
     
         22 . The device of  claim 16 , wherein the signal generator generates:
 a) a signal response due to a spectral change, optionally wherein the spectral change is a visible change; and/or   b) a change in the resistivity; and/or   c) a change in the capacitance.   
     
     
         23 - 25 . (canceled) 
     
     
         26 . The device of  claim 16 , wherein the device is a wireless radio frequency identification sensor, optionally wherein the device operates in a passive mode powered wirelessly with no internal power supply in the device. 
     
     
         27 . (canceled) 
     
     
         28 . The device of  claim 16 , further comprising nanoparticles with high atomic number capable of increasing the opacity to ionizing radiation. 
     
     
         29 . The device of  claim 28 , wherein the nanoparticles:
 a) comprise a non-radioactive element responsive to radiation; and/or   b) are coated with an organic material to increase the signal response of the device, optionally wherein the organic material is sensitive to ionizing radiation.   
     
     
         30 - 31 . (canceled) 
     
     
         32 . The device of  claim 16 , wherein the plurality of functionalized single-walled nanostructures are:
 a) covalently functionalized; or   b) non-covalently functionalized.   
     
     
         33 . (canceled) 
     
     
         34 . The device of  claim 32 , wherein the plurality of functionalized single-walled nanostructures are covalently functionalized with:
 a) Lewis or Brønsead basic moieties; and/or   b) pyridyl moieties.   
     
     
         35 . (canceled) 
     
     
         36 . The device of  claim 32 , wherein the single-walled nanostructures are functionalized using:
 a) carbon-carbon bonds; and/or   b) carbon-nitrogen bond; and/or   c) non-covalent bonds.   
     
     
         37 - 38 . (canceled) 
     
     
         39 . A composition for determining ionizing radiation, comprising:
 a plurality of nanostructures; and   a polymer material integrally connected to at least a portion of the nanostructures, wherein the polymer material comprises a poly(olefin sulfone) comprising the structure,   
       wherein: 
       
         
           
           
               
               
           
         
         R and R′ can be the same or different and are alkyl, heteroalkyl, alkenyl, heteroalkenyl, alkynyl, heteroalkynyl, aryl, heteroaryl, any of which may be substituted; and x, y, and n is 1 or greater. 
       
     
     
         40 . The composition of  claim 39 , wherein at least a portion of the polymer material undergoes a change in polymerization characteristic upon exposure to ionizing radiation. 
     
     
         41 . The composition as in  claim 39 , comprising an additional polymer comprising the structure: 
       a) 
       
         
           
           
               
               
           
         
       
       wherein:
 R and R′ can be the same or different and are alkyl, heteroalkyl, alkenyl, heteroalkenyl, alkynyl, heteroalkynyl, aryl, heteroaryl, any of which may be substituted; n is 10 or greater; and 
 wherein the additional polymer is capable of undergoing acid catalyzed depolymerization; and/or 
 
       b) 
       
         
           
           
               
               
           
         
       
       wherein n is 1 or greater; and 
       wherein the additional polymer is capable of undergoing acid catalyzed reactions to release a phenol. 
     
     
         42 . (canceled) 
     
     
         43 . A method for determining ionizing radiation, comprising:
 exposing a device comprising a sensor material comprising a plurality of functionalized single-walled nanostructures and a polymer material integrally connected to at least a portion of the plurality of functionalized single-walled nanostructures to an environment suspected of containing ionizing radiation, wherein the ionizing radiation, if present, interacts with the polymer material such that at least a portion of the polymer material undergoes a change in polymerization characteristic, thereby generating a determinable signal; and   determining the signal.   
     
     
         44 . The method of  claim 43 , wherein the device further comprises a first electrode and a second electrode in electrochemical communication with the sensor material. 
     
     
         45 . The method of  claim 44 , wherein the determinable signal comprises a change in resistance and/or capacitance associated with a circuit including the first electrode and the second electrode. 
     
     
         46 . The method of  claim 43 , wherein the polymer material comprises a poly(olefin sulfone). 
     
     
         47 . The method of  claim 46 , wherein exposure to ionizing radiation:
 a) results in depolymerization of the poly(olefin sulfone) to produce sulfur dioxide and an olefin species; and/or   b) produces an acidity that causes additional changes in the material.   
     
     
         48 . (canceled) 
     
     
         49 . The method of  claim 47 , wherein the acidity:
 a) changes the spectral signals of a molecule; and/or   b) causes a chemical change or depolymerization of an additional material in the device; and/or   c) causes a change in the carrier densities in the single walled nanostructure.   
     
     
         50 - 51 . (canceled) 
     
     
         52 . The method of  claim 43 , wherein the determinable signal comprises a spectral change, optionally wherein the spectral chance is a visible change. 
     
     
         53 . (canceled) 
     
     
         54 . A method for determining ionizing radiation, comprising:
 exposing a device comprising a sensor material comprising a plurality of nanostructures and a polymer material integrally connected to at least a portion of the plurality of nanostructures to an environment suspected of containing ionizing radiation, wherein the ionizing radiation, if present, interacts with the polymer material such that at least a portion of the polymer material undergoes a change in polymerization characteristic, thereby generating a determinable signal; and   determining the signal,   
       wherein the determinable signal comprises at least a 10% decrease in resistance upon exposure to no more than a 40 krad dose of radiation. 
     
     
         55 . The method of  claim 54 , wherein the determinable signal comprises a 60% decrease in resistance upon exposure to no more than a 40 krad dose of radiation.